Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3041 Sess. 4 13 August 2015
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (22mm, 17.22 gm, 12h). Lifetime issue of Aegae or Amphipolis, ca. 325-323 BC. Head of Athena right, with crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl decorated with coiled serpent, her hair in corkscrew curls, wearing single-pendant earring and two necklaces / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, wearing peplos, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; vertical thunderbolt in left field, ΛO monogram below left wing. Price 191. Troxell, Studies, Group B. Noe, Sicyon, 7 (same obverse die). SNG Alpha Bank 31 (same obverse die). Gulbenkian 843. A gorgeous example of this impressive coinage, struck in high relief on a broad flan, with lovely surfaces and lustrous fields, lacking the usual wear, scratches and scuffs usually found on this type. NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. From a Northern California Collection. Purchased from Freeman & Sear, Fall 2002. Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire "liberated" vast stores of gold and silver that had been locked away for centuries in the Great King's treasuries in Sardes, Susa, Persepolis and Babylon. At the beginning of his reign in 336 BC, the Macedonian Kingdom was reportedly in debt to the tune of 500 silver talents (a talent being 6,000 silver drachms and a "king's ransom" in earliest Greek times). To give an idea of the vast loot his conquests amassed, at Susa alone Alexander seized 50,000 talents of silver and 40,000 of gold. This huge intake of bullion resulted in hitherto unseen denominations such as the gold distater, tariffed at two staters and ten silver tetradrachms, about 20 day's wages for a Macedonian soldier during wartime. The distater was likely employed to pay off many of Alexander's veteran soldiers, who were rewarded for their labors with the equivalent of a silver talent. With the new denomination, a talent could be paid out as 120 gold distaters. Despite their size and enormous buying power, gold distaters evidently circulated heavily, for most specimens found today display considerable wear and numerous contact marks. This beautiful Mint State example, with virtually pristine surfaces, is thus highly exceptional.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (22mm, 17.22 gm, 12h). Lifetime issue of Aegae or Amphipolis, ca. 325-323 BC. Head of Athena right, with crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl decorated with coiled serpent, her hair in corkscrew curls, wearing single-pendant earring and two necklaces / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, wearing peplos, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; vertical thunderbolt in left field, ΛO monogram below left wing. Price 191. Troxell, Studies, Group B. Noe, Sicyon, 7 (same obverse die). SNG Alpha Bank 31 (same obverse die). Gulbenkian 843. A gorgeous example of this impressive coinage, struck in high relief on a broad flan, with lovely surfaces and lustrous fields, lacking the usual wear, scratches and scuffs usually found on this type. NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. From a Northern California Collection. Purchased from Freeman & Sear, Fall 2002. Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire "liberated" vast stores of gold and silver that had been locked away for centuries in the Great King's treasuries in Sardes, Susa, Persepolis and Babylon. At the beginning of his reign in 336 BC, the Macedonian Kingdom was reportedly in debt to the tune of 500 silver talents (a talent being 6,000 silver drachms and a "king's ransom" in earliest Greek times). To give an idea of the vast loot his conquests amassed, at Susa alone Alexander seized 50,000 talents of silver and 40,000 of gold. This huge intake of bullion resulted in hitherto unseen denominations such as the gold distater, tariffed at two staters and ten silver tetradrachms, about 20 day's wages for a Macedonian soldier during wartime. The distater was likely employed to pay off many of Alexander's veteran soldiers, who were rewarded for their labors with the equivalent of a silver talent. With the new denomination, a talent could be paid out as 120 gold distaters. Despite their size and enormous buying power, gold distaters evidently circulated heavily, for most specimens found today display considerable wear and numerous contact marks. This beautiful Mint State example, with virtually pristine surfaces, is thus highly exceptional.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD